Show Casing Our Heritage
CAMBRIA COUNTY ARTS & HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2023
Show casing our Heritage
We’re back!!! We find ourselves ramping up for the Festival this year, at Duman lake park. This year the dates are September 9 & 10 – 2023
Laurel Highlands Historical Village is located in Cambria County. Back when we started our efforts, in 2002 we had one simple goal historical preservation. To walk the mountains that surround Johnstown, is like stepping back in time, where you can see scattered about the forest floor the old foundations that once housed those pioneers who worked to clear the lands and harvest the timber. The fact is that most of the original Pioneers, who worked so hard in Cambria County, and our surrounding counties, are becoming lost in time. Their stories, their work ethics, their music, their way of life are slowing disappearing. We also have to look at Cambria County and ask ourselves, those in our community how did they survive the test of time? We are hosting the Cambria County Arts & Heritage Festival. We want to not only show case the families who can trace their roots back many generations, but the business we have, our cities, our townships, and others. We have always valued the role of preservation in preserving community character and honoring those who came before us. Our civic ancestors built the structures that dot our landscapes today and some remain. However, most of the story is fading. The event includes: Farming, Conservation, Mining, Steel manufacturing, Music, Food, Dance, Home Crafting, Timber, Woodworking, and other crafts of the time. We then look to where we are today, and ask the question where are we headed. We also want this event to be a positive event whereby we say “Be proud of who you are, Be proud to say I live in Cambria County.” It’s time to address that disparity.
In 2023 Laurel Highlands Historical Village is expanding the opportunities available for historic preservation. Preservation programs offerings will mirror the programs available for arts and heritage organizations, to take part in the festival for Cambria County as we host the 5th Cambria County Heritage Festival.
For two days in September we invite you, your Community; your Church, your school, your business, your ethnic trade, and your reenactors, to join with others as we recreate a moment lost in time. A time to show case our history, and our progress forward to where we are today. We want to invite anyone and everyone to show case our Cambria County History. The event will take place at Duman Lake County Park north of route 422 on route 271. The park will be divided into segments including music, dance, sports, reenactments, static displays of history, educational stages, food vendors, arts vendors, crafting vendors, living historical displays, animal displays, children’s games. and much more. We welcome 4-H groups, FFA, ethnic groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, farmers, loggers, musicians, musical group, churches, schools, Non-Profits, historical groups, dance groups, Police and fire departments, show horses, business and others who are proud to say I live in Cambria County.
We are also asking our ethnic community to attend this event dressed in your ethnic attire. Also, if you wish to have a booth show casing your heritage, your country please contact us asap.
This is going to provide an opportunity to not only show case your past but also show case your community today and its future. We encourage our townships, our cities, or towns, and municipalities to join us as we come together to show case our County. Our goal is to market the event in Pittsburgh, Sate College, Altoona and Cambria County. Please feel free to share this information as we are seeking those individuals and groups who would like to be a part of this historical making event. Also note, we are in need of volunteers to help During the event. If you know of anyone or groups who would like to help out, please contact us asap. Keep in mind we also need vendors, crafting, food, arts, and artisans. Applications are located on our web site www.lhhv.org and our Facebook page“ Cambria County Arts & Heritage Festival”.
Ronald J Shawley – Executive Director & Founding Member
President Abraham Lincoln
In Memory of Pastor Walt Marr, a man who portrayed President Abraham Lincoln. Pastor Marr was one of God’s Angel on the earth. He showcased what it meant to be a Christian, and he did help many in need. He once told me this quote by President Abraham Lincoln “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
― Abraham Lincoln
He was a reenactor, show casing one of America’s greatest Presidents, “Honest Abe”. I could go on and on about this man, I only want you to know that he was my friend and he will be missed.
“My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Next September at Duman Lake Park We also will be collecting food, paper goods etc. for our needy veterans who are disabled and home bound.
HIGHLIGHTS OF FESTIVAL
- Unlimited Outdoor activities including: Biking, Hiking, Fishing, Boating, Camping, Wildlife, and much more.
- Show casing a variety of Non Profit groups who plan on having great exhibits. Over 40 NP groups attending.
- Galliker’s Dairy – Antique Ice cream Wagon ( Free Samples)
- Huge Antique Car Show In sponsored by Altoona Antique Car Club
- 16th Century and small scale Village living History
- Two full days of entertainment including: That Oldies Band, The Boomers, Rosie and the Jammers, Dan Stonerook Cambria Heights High School Bagpipe Band
- Stars Wars Garrison
- Tammy Carlson-Little Egyptian Dancer
- Church service on Sunday ( It will be an authentic Civil War Service) 9 am
- Full engagement of Civil War Battles. Civil War camps open to public viewing.
- Living History groups displaying their history.
- Advertising in Pittsburgh, Cleveland , Altoona, Erie, State College and local county.
- Bus Tours planning to stop in dropping off potential shoppers seeking to buy your products.
- Opening ceremony giving thanks to our veterans on Saturday Morning 10 AM. Muster at 9:30 am
- Children’s Activities and games.
- Various Military Groups will be on station to provide support.
- Pennsylvania State Police Providing a tour of their equipment, finger printing children etc.
- Antique Tractors
- Last year’s Attendance was over 3000 persons.
- Vendor Parking Close to your setup.
- Traveling Entertainers about the park: Dancers, Musicians, Artist, Jugglers, Clowns, Magicians and much more.
Great Music all Weekend Ethnic To Oldies
Cambria County Arts & Heritage Festival EVENT SPONSORS – WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT NO MATTER THE DONATION.
Dear Friend
Laurel Highlands Historical Village is hosting a 2 day Arts and Heritage Festival at Duman Lake County Park on Saturday September 9 and Sunday September 10, 2023. Our mission with this event is to celebrate the past history, the present and future of Cambria County. We are writing to invite you to be a sponsor or supporter of this event. As a leader in the community, your involvement with the Cambria County Arts & Heritage Festival is an opportunity for your organization to receive exposure and to join other businesses, individuals and community service agencies to celebrate the heritage of Cambria County. We are looking to raise $ 6,000 to cover the costs of entertainment and event expenses. We can’t meet our goal without the help of local business’s, non-profit organization and individuals from the local community. We are eager to work with you and will customize your sponsorship to support your goals and objectives. Community sponsors are the primary source of funding for this event and will help ensure the event is a success. The event profits if any support our area veterans who are disabled and homebound.
You can provide support in the following ways:
Be an event supporter through a monetary donation. Your company logo will be placed on advertising,
commit to Gold or Silver sponsorship by 08/31/23 and we will create a banner with your logo on one of the following at your request: entertainment stage, opening ceremony, war reenactment
All sponsors will receive social media recognition
OR Volunteer your time during the event.
We plan to have musical entertainment, craft and food vendors, artisans, non-profit agencies sharing what service their organization provides in the community and the history of their organization and encampments depicting the different military camps during different war eras. Please visit our Facebook Page to view some photos of last year’s event. “Cambria County Arts an Heritage Festival” on Facebook
If you can’t do a cash donation consider donation of a basket or gift card, for our silent auction to raise monies for our veterans.
Gold Sponsorship $1,000 plus monetary or in-kind sponsorship
Silver Sponsorship $500-$1000 monetary or in-kind sponsorship
Bronze Sponsorship $1-$500 monetary or in-kind sponsorship
Please indicate your preferred sponsorship level, fill out the rest of this form and return it to
LHHV c/o Patti Defibaugh, 434 Locust St., Roaring Spring, PA 16673 or contact Patti at [email protected] or Ron Shawley at 814-241-6123 or [email protected]. You may call if you prefer we meet with you
Prior to making a donation. Please reply at your earliest convenience.
Business or Individual Name______________________________________________
Address ————————————————————————————————————
Email address__________________________________________________________
Telephone Number ______________________________________________________
Please check the type of sponsorship you are making for this event.
Type of sponsorship Gold ( ) Silver( ) Bronze( } Monetary Amt. ___________
Volunteer at Event( ) Planning Committee prior to event ( )
Thank You for Your Support and Consideration:
Ron Shawley Executive Director
GREAT ETHNIC FOODS
Food from across the globe will be offered this year as we have over 10 food vendors on site.
A weekend filled with music
They say that music warms the soul.. We say the music will not only warm the soul but will put the spark back in your step.
